Container With Adjustable Lift

ABSTRACT

A container having an internal lift has a base at its lower end and an open top at its upper end. A continuous wall extends upward from the base. A retainer is disposed on the inner surface of the container. A lift inserted in the container has a tray at its lower end and an elongated member extends upward from the tray. A plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments are disposed along the length of the elongated member. Each retainer contacting segment is capable of cooperating with the retainer in order to suspend the tray above the base of the container at a number of different pre-set vertical positions. Each vertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segment. Alternatively, the elongated member can be flexible to enable it to be bent over a top of the container or around the retainer and rigid enough to maintain the position when it is bent or straightened.

This is a Continuation-in-Part Application of application Ser. No.12/826,891 and U.S. Applicant claims the benefit of application Ser. No.12/826,891, filed Jun. 30, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage devices and, in particular, tocontainers having lift inserts for facilitating the removal of articles,typically foodstuffs, from the container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Containers having lift inserts for use in food packaging are known inthe art. Specifically, known containers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,363,794, 5,551,591, 5,626,266, 6,036,038, 5,634,569 and 5,082,135.Such devices typically comprise a food storage container provided withan article-removing lift or insert having a tray for supporting thecontents of the container, and which is capable of vertical movementalong the interior wall of the container via upward force manuallyapplied to a handle of the lift. In many prior art devices, the liftmoves in sliding engagement within the container. When the lift israised, the contents of the container are elevated toward the open mouthof the container, thereby providing access to such contents by a user.

Generally, previous container/lift systems are adapted for two-handedoperation, whereby a user manually urges the lift in an upward directionwith one hand, and grasps the article supported by the raised tray withhis/her free hand. When the user's grip on the lift is released, thetray is left to retreat to its resting position at the bottom of thecontainer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,135 issued to DeCoster discloses a foodstorage receptacle having an insert for moving the contents of thereceptacle between a predetermined stored position within the receptacleand one fixed dispensing position wherein the contents are elevated andexposed for direct access thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a container having a lift forassisting a user in removing articles from the container. The containerhas a base at its lower end and an open top at its upper end. Acontinuous wall extends upward from the base. A retainer is disposed onthe inner surface of the container. A lift inserted in the container hasa tray at its lower end and an elongated member extends upward from thetray. A plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments aredisposed along the length of the elongated member. Each retainercontacting segment is capable of cooperating with the retainer in orderto suspend the tray above the base of the container at a number ofdifferent pre-set vertical positions. Each vertical position correspondsto the location of a different retainer contacting segment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel containerwith internal lift for use in storing and dispensing goods, typicallyfoodstuffs, having the desired feature of a lift which is capable ofbeing independently suspended in a plurality of pre-set verticalpositions above the base of the container. It is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a container with internal lift that is ofsimple and economical construction.

These and other objects will become obvious to persons having ordinaryskill in the art to which the present invention relates upon examinationof the detailed description and the accompanying drawings which follow.

A container for storing and dispensing goods comprises a base at a lowerend thereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extendingupward therefrom to a top of the container. The at least one wall has aninner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a retainerlocated thereon near the top. The top has an opening therein, thecontainer having a lift therein. The lift has a tray with an elongatedmember extending upward therefrom, the elongated member having aplurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segments disposed along alength thereof. Each of the plurality of retainer contacting segments iscapable of suspending the tray above the base of the container at adifferent vertical position, there being a multitude of verticalpositions, wherein each vertical position corresponds to the location ofa different retainer contacting segment contacting the retainer.

A container for storing and dispensing goods comprises a base at a lowerend thereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extendingupward therefrom to a top of the container. The at least one wall has aninner surface and an outer surface, the top having an opening therein.The container has a lift therein, the lift having a tray with anelongated member extending upward therefrom. The lift is movableindependently of the container by raising the tray and the tray israised above the base by releasably affixing a portion of the elongatedmember to a retainer located on the container at or near a top thereof.There are different portions of the elongated member that can be affixedto the retainer to achieve different heights of the tray above the base.

A container for storing and dispensing goods comprises a base at a lowerend thereof and at least one surrounding the base and extending upwardtherefrom to a top of the container. The at least one wall has an innersurface and an outer surface, the top having an opening therein. Thecontainer has a lift therein, the lift having a tray with an elongatedmember extending upward therefrom. At least an upper portion of theelongated member is bendable but sufficiently rigid to remain inposition when bent and when straightened. The tray is suspendable abovethe base of the container at infinite positions between the base and thetop by bending a desire length of the elongated member around a retainerlocated at or near the top of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further understood from the followingdetailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and lift from a front withthe lift in a rest position and the container partially cut away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 when viewed froma side with the container partially cut away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a useposition with the lift raised above a base;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the container and a side view of thelift of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lift;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the lift of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a container andlift with the container partially cut away to expose an interior;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from a slightly different angle of theembodiment shown in FIG. 7 with the container again being partially cutaway to expose the interior;

FIG. 9 is a section side view of the lift suspended above a base of thecontainer;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container and suspended lift shownin FIG. 9 with the container partially cut away to expose an interior;and

FIG. 11 is a side view of the lift of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to10 with a wire contained in an elongated member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a container is showngenerally at reference numeral 2. The container 2 comprises a base 4 atits lower end 6 and at least one wall 8 surrounding the base 4 andextending upward therefrom to a top 5. In a preferred embodiment, the atleast one wall 8 is continuous and extends substantially perpendicularto the base 4. The at least one wall 8 may take on a cylindricalconfiguration, but of course, other shapes are possible. A retainer 10is affixed to an interior surface 12 of the wall 8 in the vicinity ofthe upper end 14 of the container 2. A lift 16 comprises a tray 18 withan elongated member 20 extending upward therefrom. The elongated member20 has a handle 22 at an upper end 24. The tray 18 has an upper surface28 and a lower surface 30. A plurality of retainer contacting segments32 are disposed along a length of the elongated member 20. Each of theplurality of retainer contacting segments 32 is designed to cooperatewith the retainer 10 for the purpose of enabling a user to suspend thelift 16 above the base 4 of the container 2 at the location of retainercontacting segment cooperation. In this way, the lift 16 may be held ina multitude of pre-set vertical positions above the base 4 of thecontainer 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the lift 16 is shown in a rest position within thecontainer 2, wherein the lower surface 30 of the tray 18 is resting onthe base 4 of the container 2 and an uppermost retainer contactingsegment 32 of the elongated member 20 is in operational contact theretainer 10. Alternatively, in the rest position, the retainercontacting segments 32 can be out of contact with the retainer 10.Proper function does not require the tray 18 to be in contact or evenclose proximity to the base 4 when the lift 16 is in the rest position.Notably, in the rest position, it can be seen that the handle 22 of theelongated member 20 is located just below the top 5 of the at least onewall 8. The top 5 has an opening 34 therein. Preferably, the tray 18 issized to fit within the opening 34 and has an area that is slightlysmaller than a cross-sectional area of the container 2. A cover 36 shownin FIG. 1 can be adapted for placement over the open top 5 of thecontainer 2 in sealing engagement with a periphery of the top 5, withoutinterference from any portion of the lift 16. The cover is conventionaland is sized and shaped to close off the opening 34. For example, thecover can have a screw thread corresponding to a screw thread on thecontainer (not shown) or the cover can snap onto the container (notshown).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the lift 16 in a use position wherein a retainercontacting segment 32 other than the uppermost retainer contactingsegment is in operable contact with the retainer 10 which in turn causesthe tray 18 to be suspended above the base 4. Each retainer contactingsegment 32 is capable of operably contacting, or cooperating with, theretainer 10 in order to suspend the tray 18 above the base 4 of thecontainer at a different pre-set vertical position, wherein eachvertical position corresponds to the location of a different retainercontacting segment 32 in contact with the retainer 10.

In operation, a user will grasp the handle 22 of the elongated member 20and release the lift 16 from its contact with the retainer 10. Next, theuser will apply an upward force to the lift 16 in order to raise theelongated member 20, and accordingly the tray 18, within the container.Upon reaching a desired vertical position, the user will manoeuvre thelift 16 back into contact with the retainer 10 at the location of one ofthe retainer contacting segments 32. Presumably, where the container isnearly empty, in order to access articles within the container 2, theuser will raise and position the tray 18 into alignment with the upperportion of the container 2 by attaching a retainer contacting segment 32located within the lower portion of the elongated member 20 to theretainer 10. In contrast, where the container 2 is substantially full ofarticles, the user will raise and position the tray 18 into alignmentwith the lower portion of the container 2 by attaching a retainercontacting segment 32 located within the upper portion of the elongatedmember 20 to the retainer 10.

Preferably, the retainer 10 is a hook affixed to the interior surface 12of the container 2 and just below the open top 5. Preferably, theplurality of retainer contacting segments 32 are a series of aperturesdisposed along the length of the elongated member 20, wherein the hook10 may be inserted into each aperture in order to hold the lift 16 inposition.

The lift is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, the retainercontacting segments 32 of the lift 16 are evenly spaced along the lengthof the elongated member 20. While the Figures show a total of seven (7)retainer contacting segments 32 disposed along the length of theelongated member 20, a person of skill in the art would recognize thatany reasonable number of retainer contacting segments can be utilized.As can be seen in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment, the tray 18 issubstantially normal to the elongated member 20. The lift 16 may be madeof any suitable economical and durable material, such as plastic ormetal.

Optionally, a perimeter of the tray 18 may have a continuous, upwardlyextending flange portion (not shown) for the purpose of facilitating thecontainment of articles within the upper surface of the tray 18.Further, the surface of the tray 18 may be configured to substantiallyconform to the shape of the base 4. The tray 18 can have one or moredrainage openings (not shown) when the tray is immersed in a liquidwithin the container when the tray 18 is in the rest position.

Preferably, the container of the present invention is used to store fooditems and, more preferably, potato chips of the type sold in cylindricalcontainers or generally cylindrical containers such as, for example,those sold under the name Pringles (a trade mark). The potato chips havean identical shape to one another and are stacked within the container.When the container is filled with potato chips, the lift is in the restposition and the tray is located beneath the stack of chips. When a userwishes to remove some chips from the container, the cover is removed andthe lift can be manipulated to move the tray away from the base andaffix the lift in the desired position to preferably expose some of thechips above the top 5. The chips above the top 5 are easily accessibleto a user and can be removed from the stack and consumer or moved toanother location for consumption. When the user does not wish to consumeadditional chips, the lift can then be manipulated to release the liftfrom the retainer and return the lift to the rest position. The covercan then be replaced on the container. The next time the user wishes toremove chips from the container, the cover will again be removed and theuser will raise the lift to a higher level than previously raised topreferably expose some of the remaining chips above the top 5 and affixthe lift in that vertical position. When a user or users are consuming alarge number of chips, the user may successively raise the lift from aprevious raised and fixed position relative to the base to a higherraised position in which the lift is in contact with the retainer. Themethod is repeated, as desired, to ultimately remove all of the chipsfrom the container.

Of course, a user may need to raise and fix the tray at any of a seriesof different vertical positions, depending on the quantity of articlescontained within or fullness of the receptacle. Where few articles arecontained within the receptacle, in order to access such articles, theuser will need to raise and fix the tray into alignment with the upperportion of the receptacle. In contrast, where the receptacle issubstantially full of articles, the user need only raise and fix thetray to a position within the lower portion of the receptacle in orderto access such articles. In the latter scenario, if the receptacle wassubstantially full of articles and the tray was raised into the upperportion of the receptacle, then some of the articles would fall out ofthe receptacle. In order to accommodate different quantities of articleswithin a container and to provide ready access of a user to sucharticles, the lift of the present invention is capable of beingindependently suspended in a plurality of pre-set vertical positionsabove the base of the container.

In summary, a container for storing and dispensing goods comprises abase at a lower end thereof and at least one wall surrounding the baseand extending upward therefrom to a top of the container, the at leastone wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfacehaving a retainer located thereon near the top, the top having anopening therein, the container having a lift therein, the lift having atray with an elongated member extending upward therefrom, the elongatedmember having a plurality of spaced apart retainer contacting segmentsdisposed along a length thereof, each of the plurality of retainercontacting segments being capable of suspending the tray above the baseof the container at a different vertical position, there being amultitude of vertical positions, wherein each vertical positioncorresponds to the location of a different retainer contacting segmentcontacting the retainer.

The same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 7 to 11 as those used inFIGS. 1 to 6 to describe the container and cover. In FIGS. 7 and 8, thecontainer 2 has a lift 40 therein with a tray 42 and an elongated member44 extending upward from the tray 42. The lift 40 is resting on the base4 of the container 2, which is partially cut away to expose the interior34.

In FIG. 9, the lift 40 is elevated above the base 4. The top 5 of thecontainer 2 is a retainer 46 as the elongated member is bent over thetop 5 which functions as a retainer 46. The elongated member has a wireor bend 48 located therein. The wire or bend can be embedded in theelongated member 44 or the elongated member can be a sleeve thatsurrounds the wire or bend 48. The elongated member is flexible so thatany suitable location along the length of the elongated member can bebent around the retainer 46 with the elongated member 44 being rigidenough to remain in the bent position when bent or to remain in thestraight position when straightened. The wire or bend is preferably madeof metal, but can be any material that can be bent or straightened andwill hold its shape when bent or straightened and can be bent andrestraightened numerous times without breaking. There is a gap 50 shownin FIG. 9 between a curved portion of the elongated member 44 and theretainer 46. The gap 50 is shown to make the drawing more clear. Inactual usage of the lift container, the bent portion of the elongatedmember 44 is in contact with the retainer 46. In FIG. 9, the retainer 46and the elongated member can be bent over any part of the top 5. Theheight of the tray 42 above the base 4 is determined by bending theelongated member over the top 5 at a location along the elongated memberto achieve the desired height above the base. Alternatively, though itis not shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, a retainer can be located on the innersurface 12 of the container near the top 5 and the elongated member 44can be bent around the retainer instead of bending the elongated memberover the top 5 of the container 2. Preferably, the elongated member isbent over the top of the container.

In FIG. 10, there shown a perspective view of the container with thelift 40 suspended above the base 4 and the elongated member bent overthe top 5 of the container 2. A front portion of the container is cutaway to expose the lift.

In FIG. 11, there shown a side view of the lift 40 with the elongatedmember 44 extending upward therefrom. The same reference numerals areused in FIGS. 10 and 11 as those used in FIGS. 7 to 9 for thosecomponents that are identical.

While one or more embodiments of this invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident tothose skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the essence of this invention. All suchmodifications are believed to be within the sphere and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A container for storing and dispensing goods, the containercomprising a base at a lower end thereof and at least one wallsurrounding the base and extending upward therefrom to a top of thecontainer, the at least one wall having an inner surface and an outersurface, the top having an opening therein, the container having a lifttherein, the lift having a tray with an elongated member extendingupward therefrom, the lift being movable independently of the container,the tray being capable of being raised above the base by releasablyaffixing a portion of the elongated member to a retainer located on thecontainer at or near a top thereof, therebeing different portions of theelongated member that can be affixed to the retainer to achievedifferent heights of the tray above the base.
 2. A container for storingand dispensing goods, the container comprising a base at a lower endthereof and at least one wall surrounding the base and extending upwardtherefrom to a top of the container, the at least one wall having aninner surface and an outer surface, the top having an opening therein,the container having a lift therein, the lift having a tray with anelongated member extending upward therefrom, at least an upper portionof the elongated member being bendable but sufficiently rigid to remainin position when bent and when straightened, the tray being suspendableabove the base of the container at infinite positions between the baseand the top by bending a desired length of the elongated member around aretainer located at or near the top of the container.
 3. The containerof claim 2 wherein the elongated member is a wire.
 4. The container ofclaim 3 wherein the wire is embedded in a covering material.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 3 wherein the wire is surrounded by a sleeve.
 6. Thecontainer of claim 2 wherein the retention means is an upper surface ofthe top of the container with the elongated member being bent around thetop in a generally inverted U-shaped configuration.
 7. The container ofclaim 2 wherein the elongated member is bendable along substantiallyalong the entire length thereof.
 8. The container of claim 2 wherein thetray is sized to fit within the open top to enable it to be insertedinto and remove from the container.
 9. The container of claim 2 whereinthe container additionally comprises a cover for engaging with an upperlip of the at least wall in order to seal the top of the container. 10.The container of claim 2 wherein the tray has a flat upper surface. 11.The container of claim 2 wherein the tray is normal to the elongatedmember.
 12. The container of claim 2 wherein the perimeter of an uppersurface of the trays is fitted with a continuous, upwardly extendingflange portion for facilitating the containment of articles on the uppersurface of the tray.
 13. The container of claim 2 wherein the elongatedmember has an upper end comprising a handle.